Hidden Light Matthew 5:14-16

"Then Jesus again spoke to them saying, ‘I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the Light of life'" (Jn. 8:12, NASB).

On May 25, 2020 Mr. George Floyd, a Black man was killed in the Powderhorn community of Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Mr. Floyd died as a result of a white policeman pressing his knee on Mr. Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and forty-six seconds as Mr. Floyd lay face down on the ground in handcuffs. Two other officers put their knee on Mr. Floyd’s back while a third officer stood by and watched as Mr. Floyd continued to plead for his life saying, “I can’t breathe.” All four policemen are quickly fired, but it takes several hours before the officer that caused the death is arrested and charged with third degree murder. The other three have yet to be charged as of June 2, 2020. This incident along with the murder of other unarmed African Americans led to peaceful demonstrations and riots resulting in violence, property damage, and destruction of buildings and monuments in several cities and towns throughout the United States. The United States finds itself in another dark place in its history. There is a need for light. In this article I want to give the reader food for thought as to the lack of light on this subject as well as other subject matters.

The text that we have chosen for this discussion comes to us through a statement made by Jesus as He teaches about the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 4:17). When Jesus gets to verse fourteen He tells those that are listening that the kingdom of heaven is the light of the world. He warns that it is possible for the light to be hidden under a basket instead of being put on a lampstand to give light to all in the house (Matt. 5:15, NASB). So, what are some things that have been done and continue to be done to hide the light in our country, in our states, in our cities and towns, and in our communities?

First and most important is that we must recognize the source of the light. Now President Trump is blamed for the problems in America today. Ironically, this is an election year and many people, including Christians, believe that the solution to dispel the darkness is in the election of another president. Although I agree that our country might be better off with a new president, I do not believe that a new president is the light needed to shine in the darkness of America’s moral failures and ethical practices. What or who is the source of the light that is needed so desperately?

The source of the light that America needs is Jesus Christ. Jesus says, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows ME will not walk in darkness, but will have the Light of life” (Jn. 8:12, NASB). In the scriptures light refers most often to true knowledge while darkness refers to ignorance of true knowledge. Also, light refers to righteousness and justice based on the words of Jesus who gives us right instructions on all matters in the world. At the same time darkness refers to the absence of righteousness and justice based on the words of religions, philosophies, and science that are contrary to the words of Jesus. Yet, Jesus tells His followers that they are the light. How so?

In Matthew 4 Jesus teaches in Galilee. “Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among people” (Matt. 4:23, NASB). Let us notice here that Jesus goes into the synagogues. The synagogue is the place where the Jews worship God, and they are taught the Word of God. The people, that is, the Jews who are considered to be God’s people, learn about life from God’s perspective. People all over Palestine hear about Jesus and large crowds follow Him. Jesus begins with His own people in terms of genealogy and in terms of theology. The Jews are biological descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God has chosen their descendants to be His special people that He can use to be an example to the Gentiles, showing forth the glory and majesty of God. They are chosen to be the light of the world. It is God’s own people that Jesus first teaches and heals. At this point in Jesus’ ministry He does not involve the Gentiles. This He will do later.

The crowds are following Jesus because Jesus teaches them and He heals all kinds of sickness and diseases. Jesus imparts truth that the synagogue does not have. Jesus heals sickness and diseases that have no known remedy; no cure. This brings us to the second point. It is not enough that some individuals have knowledge of God’s truth. It is not enough that some individuals are healed. Rather, it is the goal of Jesus that the whole world has knowledge of Him and His words. It is the goal of Jesus that everyone has access to His healing power. Since Jesus knows that in about three years He will return to the Father, He commissions certain people to continue His ministry on earth. Who might these people be? This brings us to the third point in our discussion.

The third point is this: In John 8:12 Jesus says that it is the ones that follow Him that will have the light, that is the knowledge and power that Jesus gives to them. Who are the ones that follow Jesus? Again, the writer of the fourth gospel records the words of Jesus. “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free’” (Jn. 8:31-32, NASB). The Disciples of Christ are the source of light in the world. A disciple is one that believes that Jesus is the Son of God. A disciple is one that learns from Jesus the precepts followed in the kingdom of heaven (God). That these precepts are believed and understood is made manifest in the following; continuing (living out) these commands in one’s everyday life. Knowing the source and the disseminators of the Light helps us to know what hides the light, and thus, leaves the world in darkness. Let us consider these things about the light bearers in the world today. How have they taken the light from the lampstand and hide the light under a basket?

First, those who are supposed to be light bearers have compromised their faith in Jesus. The church has severely compromised the words of Jesus with the words of religion, philosophy, and science. This compromise allows the people of God to live according to the ways of the world instead of living by the words of Jesus.

Secondly, there is a new hermeneutic that justifies allowing sin and corruption in the church (those that are supposed to be in the kingdom of God/heaven). Things that are specifically declared to be sin by God’s own words are now justified under the mistaken notions of grace and mercy. Grace is not the permission to sin. Grace is God’s provision for a second chance to be reconciled to God and the ability to live out the words of Jesus. Mercy is God’s provision that makes possible the forgiveness of sin instead of certain death because of sin. Mercy like grace is God’s provision for a second chance to get right with God and to live by the laws of the kingdom of heaven.

Thirdly, there is a gross misunderstanding of the role of the church in the continuing ministry that Jesus gives to His disciples. The voice of the church is now drowned out by the voices in the world. Thus, there is no clear message because according to the world’s standards everyone’s words have value and everyone’s belief must be taken into account. When Jesus is walking the earth He does not allow any such compromise. Jesus speaks the words that His Father commands Him to say. Jesus never asks anyone to believe and obey His words. They either don’t believe or they believe. If one believes and obey, they come out the darkness of their sin into the marvelous light found in the new life that is in Jesus Christ. If one does not believe, they remain in their sins (darkness) condemned already (Jn 3:17-18).

Finally, the church fails to be holy. Now, this word holy is not limited to abiding by certain moral behaviors and ethical practices. No, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23, NASB). The word holy is here used in the sense of being separate and distinctively different. Thus, it is not the role of the church to walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners; Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!” (Psa. 1:1, NASB). Jesus commissions the church not to change the world, rather the church proclaims the gospel of Jesus Christ persuading people to relinquish their standing in the world and receive new standing in the kingdom of God. It is the Disciples of Christ set apart from the world, living in the kingdom of God with the light sitting high on a lampstand for the whole to see. Jesus is saying to the church today, “‘Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven’” (Matt. 5:16, NASB). Don’t hide the light.